If Philip Rivers’ pass distribution continues along anything approaching this pace, then Ryan Mathews, Mike Tolbert and Jacob Hester will surpass anything the backs here did when LaDainian Tomlinson was setting records while teamed with Darren Sproles, Lorenzo Neal and Michael Turner.

Tomlinson had more catches than any running back besides Bryan Westbrook from 2002-09 and set a franchise mark with 100 receptions in 2003. That season, he combined with Neal and Jesse Chatman for 121 total receptions by the Chargers running backs. Last year, Sproles led the Chargers with 59 receptions and combined with Tolbert, Mathews and Hester for 128 catches by the backs.

But this year so far has been something altogether different.

The current trio of backs has combined for 38 catches through three games, accounting for 44.1 percent of Rivers’ 86 completions. Also, 52.3 percent of Rivers’ completions have gone for fewer than 11 yards, the highest percentage since the Norv Turner long ball era was just getting underway in 2007.

“You always like being able to touch the ball more but, I mean, I don’t think it’s anything specific that Coach is calling play-wise,” said Tolbert, who leads the Chargers with 20 receptions. “I think it’s just Philip reading the defense, getting the ball out of his hands.

Owing to opposing defense’s strategy in trying to take away the deep pass, Rivers’ ingenuity and also the Chargers’ penchant for giving away the ball, it just might keep going this way.

“These safeties are as deep …” Rivers said. “… They were just deep on every play. They’re probably going to continue to do it if we’re going to keep turning it over. Teams are going to say, ‘Don’t give up a big play and over a 15-play drive, they’ll throw us one, or they’ll fumble.’ I can see that continuing to be the plan until we continue just to put drives away.”

Nuts ‘n’ Bolts

• Cornerback Quentin Jammer says he’ll play against the Miami Dolphins. Norv Turner said Jammer’s hamstring injury will be evaluated on a “week-to-week” basis. It sounds as if Turner would be comfortable with Marcus Gilchrist having to fill in. Said Turner of Gilchrist’s 34 snaps in place of Jammer on Sunday. Said Turner: “He looked like a starting NFL corner, so that was impressive to me.”

• Philip Rivers leads the NFL with a 136.4 fourth-quarter passer rating. His rating in the other three quarters is 63.6.

• The Chargers have the league’s best third-down conversion rate (61.5 percent) but are now tied with Kansas City for the second worst turnover ratio (minus-6) and are tied with their next opponent, Miami, for the third-worst scoring percentage (69.2) inside the red zone.